Hyosung said on the 8th that it created an AI convergence research institute to push a companywide artificial intelligence (AI) all-out transformation (AX).
The AI convergence research institute plans to pursue application- and convergence-focused research and development to apply the latest AI technology to existing businesses and maximize synergy.
In particular, the AI convergence research institute plans to lead AI not as a simple tool for work efficiency or expense reduction, but as a core engine at the forefront of developing high value-added new products and designing and executing future new businesses for key group affiliates such as Hyosung Heavy Industries, Hyosung TNC and Hyosung Chemical.
In addition, Hyosung plans to combine AI with the manufacturing expertise it has accumulated to advance its Smart Factory with a high level of completeness and to foster an innovation culture across manufacturing sites.
Hyosung hired Maeng Seong-hyeon, an emeritus professor at KAIST, as the inaugural head (executive vice president) of the AI convergence research institute.
Maeng, a former professor at Syracuse University and the KAIST School of Computing, is an AI technology expert who has led the fields of meaning-based information retrieval, text mining, natural language processing and language modeling for more than 30 years. Over the past eight months, Maeng has served as Hyosung's AI adviser, giving counsel on the company's digital transformation direction and delivering special lectures to improve employees' AI capabilities.
Hyosung said it plans to secure not only core technical personnel essential for the AX transition going forward, but also the next generation of talent who combine on-site industrial expertise with AI utilization capabilities.